Gladys Faye (Cox) Grimaud

Gladys grew up in Tennessee and Texas among a few other states, until she was the age of 12 when her family settled in Augusta, GA, across the street from the Grimaud family farm. Two years later, January 18, 1957, at the age of 14, she married her 18 year old neighbor and sweetheart, Joe, whom she cherished as her beloved husband for 63 years, before his passing in 2020. Gladys graduated Salutatorian from Highland Park High School in Topeka, KS, in 1960, which incidentally was also the day she gave birth to David, their first born son. Two years later, Greg came along and then ten years later, Keith arrived.

Gladys made the decision to make her career of being a wonderful mother and wife as she was devoted to her husband and to raising their sons to love Jesus and follow their dreams. Over a twenty year span of being a United States Air Force wife, there were periods of time when Joe was called away for duty, that Gladys stepped up to the plate to wear many hats. She was faithful to the calling, to her husband, her family and most importantly to Jesus, with whom she had a very special relationship. The evidence is in the strong Christian legacy and loving family that was a result of her life of prayer, dedication, devotion and determination to be the hands and feet of Jesus to her family first, and to many others who call her Mom.

Gladys served the Lord through the Church of the Nazarene in a variety of roles which included church pianist, Sunday school teacher, children's church director, evangelism director, women’s ministries director, and many other areas of hospitality. Outside of her local church, she also served Jesus as a World Visionary and Cross Style Evangelist, Global Philanthropist, mentor, founder of CityLight, Ecumenical University and the Esther Women of Influence. Gladys & Joe’s desire to restore families and create unity across racial and denominational lines was evident in their Co-Chairing the 1997 Reconciliation Crusade held in Williams-Brice Stadium, where over 80,000 attended in 3 days. In recent years, Gladys received her Honorary PhD and was honored as a Bishop by the Ecumenical Church and University.

Gladys and Joe co-owned multiple automotive franchises along with other business ventures, including a furniture store and rental equipment company, to name a few. Gladys was an author and speaker and enjoyed hosting women’s conferences and multiple events to raise women up to be godly wives and mothers.

Gladys was preceded in death by her father, George W. Cox; her mother, Gladys Kelley Cox; her brother, Ritter Cox; and her husband Joseph A. Grimaud, Jr. She is survived by their 3 sons, David (Maureen), Gregory (Suzanne), and Keith (Jennifer); 9 beloved grandchildren, Marilyn (Kaleb), Geoffrey (Natalie), Alana (Cory), Danica (Christian), Garrison, Sophie (Ian), Ava, Brady and Beatrice; 4 great grandchildren, Genevieve, Elizabeth, Rosalyn and Holland; as well as her sister, Ricka (Cox) Garies and many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Monday, June 24, 2024 at Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, from 5:00 until 7:00 pm.

A funeral service will be held at 12:00 pm Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at First Church of the Nazarene, 901 St Andrews Rd, Columbia, SC 29210. A graveside service will follow at 2:00 pm in Fort Jackson National Cemetery, 4170 Percival Rd, Columbia, SC 29229.